Electronic device, server, electronic device controlling method, information processing method and recording medium

ABSTRACT

An information processing device includes an interface configured to receive authentication information from an electronic device. The device also includes circuitry configured to identify an execution range of an association operation program executed by the electronic device, the execution range being indicative of an authentication of an association between the electronic device and another electronic device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Priority PatentApplication JP 2013-166683 filed Aug. 9, 2013, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, a server, anelectronic device controlling method, an information processing methodand a recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

As various types of electronic devices spread, cases in which electronicdevices can operate in association with each other are increasing.Realization of such an association operation expands functionalities ofthe devices, and may be said to give a new added value to the devices.However, since such an association between the devices is often realizedthrough processes within the devices according to programs incorporatedin the respective devices in advance, it is difficult to trace realizedassociation operations and executable association operations later.

In such a situation, for example, a technology for issuing a user ID toa digital camera performing an association operation with a server, andproviding service and executing a billing process based on this user IDis described in Patent Literature 1.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[Patent Literature 1] JP 2004-304409A

SUMMARY Technical Problem

However, in the technology described in Patent Literature 1 describedabove, the server which is the one device performing the associationoperation manages the association operation of the digital camera usingthe user ID. Therefore, it is difficult for the association operationbetween the digital camera and another device, for example, asmartphone, to be managed using this technology. Thus, it is difficultto say that technology proposed so far for managing the associationoperation without limitation between specific devices is sufficient.

Therefore, an electronic device, a server, a method of controlling theelectronic device, an information processing method, and a recordingmedium which are new and improved and are capable of managing anassociation operation without limitation between specific devices areproposed in this disclosure.

Solution to Problem

According to one embodiment, an information processing device isdescribed that includes

an interface configured to receive authentication information from anelectronic device; and

circuitry configured to

identify an execution range of an association operation program executedby the electronic device based on the authentication information, theexecution range being indicative of an authentication of an associationbetween the electronic device and another electronic device.

According to an information processing system embodiment, the systemincludes

an information management device including

an interface configured to receive authentication information from anelectronic device, and

circuitry configured to

identify an execution range of an association operation program executedby the electronic device based on the authentication information, theexecution range being indicative of an authentication of an associationbetween the electronic device and another electronic device; and

an information processing device configured to

receive description information regarding the electronic device and theanother electronic device,

communicate with the electronic device and another electronic device and

send the association operation program to the electronic device thatconfigures the electronic device to realize an association operationbetween the electronic device and the another electronic device.

According to an information processing method embodiment, the methodincludes

receiving via an interface authentication information from an electronicdevice; and

identifying with the circuitry an execution range of an associationoperation program executed by the electronic device based on theauthentication program, the execution range being indicative of anauthentication of an association between the electronic device andanother electronic device.

According to a non-transitory computer readable storage deviceembodiment, the storage device includes instructions that when executedby a computer cause the computer to execute an information processingmethod, the method including receiving via an interface authenticationinformation from an electronic device; and identifying with thecircuitry an execution range of an association operation programexecuted by the electronic device based on the authenticationinformation, the execution range being indicative of an authenticationof an association between the electronic device and another electronicdevice.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, according to this disclosure, it is possible tomanage the association operation without limitation between specificdevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a systemaccording to one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic functionalconfiguration of an electronic device and a management server accordingto one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of theelectronic device according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functionality of an associationoperation script in one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a functionality of the associationoperation script in one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first specific example of theassociation operation in one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second specific example of theassociation operation in one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a third specific example of theassociation operation in one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first implementation example in oneembodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second implementation example in oneembodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of aninformation processing device according to an embodiment of thisdisclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of this disclosure will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further, in thepresent specification and drawings, components having substantially thesame functional configuration are denoted with the same reference signsand a repeated description thereof is omitted.

Further, a description will be given in the following order.

1. System configuration

1-1 Functional configuration

1-2 Process flow

1-3 Variant

2. Mechanism and specific example of association operation

2-1 Mechanism of association operation

2-2 Specific example of association operation

3. Implementation examples

4. Hardware configuration

5. Supplement

(1. System Configuration)

First, a configuration of a system according to one embodiment of thisdisclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

(1-1. Functional Configuration)

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a systemaccording to one embodiment of this disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, asystem 10 according to one embodiment of this disclosure may include anelectronic device 100, a script server 200, another electronic device300, a management server 400, and a publisher 500.

In the illustrated example, the electronic device 100 and the otherelectronic device 300 may be any devices manipulated by a user and maybe, for example, any devices each having an information processingfunctionality and a network communication functionality, such as amobile phone (smartphone), a PC (Personal Computer), a television, arecorder, a game console, and a media player. Further, the otherelectronic device 300 may be, for example, an electronic device used inproximity to the electronic device 100, but may be a server differentfrom the script server 200 and the management server 400, which isconnected to the electronic device 100 over a network. The server, forexample, may provide services on social media to the electronic device100. The electronic device 100 performs an association operation withthe other electronic device 300 by being controlled according to anassociation operation script distributed from the script server 200. Theassociation operation script may also be similarly distributed to theother electronic device 300 or prepared in the other electronic device300 in advance, and the other electronic device 300 may perform anassociation operation with the electronic device 100 by being controlledaccording to the association operation script. Further, a mechanism ofsuch an association operation will be described below in detail.

Here, the association operation script distributed by the script server200 is provided by the publisher 500. The publisher 500 is an entitywhich acquires a script format managed in the management server 400 anddevelops and publishes the association operation script according to theformat. Therefore, the illustrated publisher 500 may indicate anindividual or a corporation itself who acts as a publisher or a terminaldevice used for the individual or the corporation to receive the scriptformat from the management server 400 and upload the associationoperation script to the script server 200 according to context.

In this embodiment, the association operation script may be distributedfor a fee in the script server 200. In this case, the publisher 500, forexample, receives a value paid by a user of the electronic device 100and/or the other electronic device 300 which has downloaded theassociation operation script from the script server 200. Alternatively,the association operation script may be provided for free in the scriptserver 200. In this case, the publisher 500 receives, for example, anadvertisement charge from an advertiser of an advertisement which isdistributed together with the association operation script and output inthe electronic device 100 and/or the other electronic device 300.

Meanwhile, a log is transmitted from the electronic device 100 and/orthe other electronic device 300 which has downloaded the associationoperation script and executed the association operation, to themanagement server 400. The log includes information on the executedassociation operation using the association operation script in theelectronic device 100 and/or the other electronic device 300.

Here, in this embodiment, a script format provided from the managementserver 400 to the publisher 500 is accompanied by authenticationinformation. The authentication information is incorporated, forexample, in a fixed form part of the script format, and theauthentication information can be confirmed even in the associationoperation script developed according to the script format. Therefore,the electronic device 100 and/or the other electronic device 300 canassociate the authentication information accompanying the associationoperation script with the log which is transmitted to the managementserver 400 when the association operation has been executed. As aresult, the management server 400 can recognize that the associationoperation has been actually executed between the electronic device 100and the other electronic device 300, using the script format provided tothe publisher 500.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating schematic functionalconfigurations of the electronic device and the management serveraccording to one embodiment of this disclosure. Hereinafter,configurations of the electronic device 100 and the management server400 included in the system 10 described above will be described ingreater detail with reference to FIG. 2.

(Electronic Device)

The electronic device 100 is any device manipulated by a user, and maybe, for example, any device having an information processingfunctionality and a network communication functionality, such as amobile phone (smartphone), a PC (Personal Computer), a television, arecorder, a game console, or a media player, as described above. Theelectronic device 100 includes a processor 110, a communication unit120, and a storage unit 130. The electronic device 100 may be realized,for example, by a hardware configuration of an information processingdevice, which will be described below. In a hardware configurationexample, the processor 110 may be realized by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM andthe like. The communication unit 120 may be realized by a communicationdevice. The storage unit 130 may be realized by, for example, a storagedevice and/or a removable storage medium.

The processor 110 may realize functionalities of a control unit 111, atransmission unit 112 and a reception unit 113 by operating according toa program. The processor 110 may also realize various functionalitiesfor overall control of the electronic device 100, but thefunctionalities are different according to devices and are well known toa person skilled in the art. Therefore, a description of differences ofthe functionalities is omitted herein. Hereinafter, each of thefunctionalities will be further described.

The control unit 111 controls the electronic device 100 according to theassociation operation script provided from the script server 200 andexecutes an association operation with the other electronic device 300.An association operation script 1301 used by the control unit 111, forexample, may be at least temporarily stored in the storage unit 130. Theassociation operation script 1301 is accompanied by authenticationinformation 1303, as described above.

Here, the control unit 111 may determine an execution range of theassociation operation script 1301 based on the authenticationinformation 1303. More specifically, when the association operationscript 1301 is not accompanied by the authentication information 1303,the control unit 111 may be set not to execute the association operationscript 1301 (to determine that there is no execution range).Alternatively, the control unit 111 may be set to limit a functionalityof the electronic device 100 available in the association operation whenthe association operation script 1301 is not accompanied by theauthentication information 1303 in executing the association operationscript 1301. In this case, the association operation script 1301includes a first part in which permission based on the authenticationinformation 1303 is necessary for execution, and a second part in whichthe permission based on the authentication information is not necessaryfor execution, and the control unit 111 may execute the second partregardless of the authentication information 1303. Further, it may bedetermined whether the association operation script 1301 is accompaniedby the authentication information 1303 (whether the accompaniedauthentication information 1303 is correct), for example, based oninformation stored in the storage unit 130 in advance or based oninformation obtained through inquiry to the management server 400 viathe transmission unit 112, the reception unit 113 and the communicationunit 120.

Further, the control unit 111 may inquire the execution range of theassociation operation script 1301 of the management server 400 via thetransmission unit 112. In this case, a request including theauthentication information 1303 is transmitted from the transmissionunit 112 to the management server 400. Information indicating theexecution range of the association operation script 1301 may be includedin a response produced by the management server 400 in response to therequest and received by the reception unit 113. The execution range maybe set to full or nothing or the execution range may be set so that onlysome operations are restricted. The control unit 111 executes theassociation operation script 1301 within the execution range indicatedby the information included in the response. Accordingly, the executionrange of the association operation script 1301 in the electronic device100 can be dynamically controlled from the management server 400.

Further, when the control unit 111 has executed the associationoperation using the association operation script 1301, the control unit111 may generate a log 1305 related to the association operation and atleast temporarily store the log in the storage unit 130. The log 1305 isassociated with the authentication information 1303 accompanying theassociation operation script 1301. Further, information indicating theother electronic device 300 which is an association partner orinformation transmitted or received through the association operationmay be included in the log 1305 in addition to information (e.g., time,a number of times, or duration) indicating that the associationoperation has been executed. The log 1305 at least temporarily stored inthe storage unit 130 may be transmitted to the management server 400 bythe transmission unit 112 via the communication unit 120.

The transmission unit 112 may transmit the request including theauthentication information 1303 to the management server 400, asdescribed above. In this case, the reception unit 113 receives, from themanagement server 400, the response including the information indicatingthe execution range of the association operation script 1301, which isgenerated by the management server 400 in response to the request.Further, the transmission unit 112 may transmit the log 1305 related tothe association operation to the management server 400. In this case,the reception unit 113 may receive payment information which has beengenerated by the management server 400 based on the transmitted log.

Further, the transmission unit 112 may transmit device identificationinformation of the electronic device 100 to the script server 200 overthe network. In this case, the reception unit 113 may receive theassociation operation script 1301 acquired in the script server 200based on the transmitted device identification information, togetherwith the authentication information 1303. As described above, theassociation operation script 1301 is used for the association operationbetween the electronic device 100 and the other electronic device 300.Device identification information of the other electronic device 300 maybe detected in the electronic device 100 and then transmitted from thetransmission unit 112 or may be detected in the script server 200.

Here, in this embodiment, a signature given by a manager of themanagement server 400 may be included in the authentication information1303 accompanying the association operation script 1301. With thissignature, for example, falsification of the authentication information1303 stored in the storage unit 130 in the electronic device 100 orfalsification of the authentication information 1303 accumulated in thescript server 200 or the like before the authentication information 1303is distributed to the electronic device 100 can be prevented.

(Management Server)

The management server 400 is a server on the network, and providesservices to one or a plurality of electronic devices 100. The managementserver 400 includes a processor 410, a communication unit 420, and astorage unit 430. The functionality of the management server 400 may berealized by, for example, a single server device connected to thenetwork. Alternatively, the functionality of the management server 400may be realized in such a manner to be distributed to a plurality ofserver devices. In this case, the plurality of server devices cooperateover the network. The server device may be realized by, for example, ahardware configuration of the information processing device which willbe described below. In a hardware configuration example, the processor410 may be realized by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like. Thecommunication unit 420 may be realized by a communication device. Thestorage unit 430 may be realized by, for example, a storage deviceand/or a removable storage medium.

The processor 410 can realize functionalities of a reception unit 411, acollection unit 412, a determination unit 413, a payment processing unit414, and a transmission unit 415 by operating according to a program.The processor 410 may realize various other functionalities for overallcontrol of the management server 400, but these functionalities are wellknown to a person skilled in the art. Therefore, a description of thefunctionalities is omitted herein. Hereinafter, each function describedabove will be further described.

Further, here, a script format 4301, authentication information 4303 anda log 4305 are stored in such a manner to be associated with each otherin the storage unit 430 of the management server 400. The script formatis a format provided from the management server 400 to the publisher500, which develops an association operation script according to thescript format 4301, as described above. The developed associationoperation script is accompanied by the authentication information 4303which is in a form that can be confirmed. Therefore, when the electronicdevice 100 executes the association operation according to theassociation operation script 1301, the electronic device 100 may acquirethe authentication information 1303 accompanying the associationoperation script 1301, and transmit the authentication information 1303to the management server 400 in advance to inquire the execution rangeof the association operation script 1301 or transmit the authenticationinformation 1303 in such a manner to be associated with the log of theassociation operation to the management server 400. In this case, themanagement server 400 my compare the authentication information 4303stored in the storage unit 430 with the transmitted authenticationinformation and identify which script format 4301 is used to develop theassociation operation script used when the association operation isexecuted. In other words, in this embodiment, the script format 4301stored in the storage unit 430 functions as information indicating anassociation between the association operation script and theauthentication information.

The reception unit 411 receives, from the electronic device 100, the logrelated to the association operation executed according to theassociation operation script by the electronic device 100, together withthe authentication information accompanying the association operationscript. The received log may be provided to the collection unit 412.Further, when the control unit 111 of the electronic device 100 inquiresof the management server 400 about the execution range of theassociation operation script 1301 via the transmission unit 112, thereception unit 411 receives the request transmitted from thetransmission unit 112. The authentication information 1303 accompanyingthe association operation script 1301 is included in the request. Thereceived request may be provided to the determination unit 413.

The collection unit 412 executes collection for the log received by thereception unit 411 based on the authentication information receivedtogether with the log. Upon collection, the collection unit 412references the script format 4301 and the authentication information4303 associated with the script format 4301, which are stored in thestorage unit 430. The collection unit 412 may store a log, as the log4305, in such a manner to be associated with the script format 4301through the authentication information 4303 in the storage unit 430. Forexample, even when the association operation scripts 1301 used in theelectronic device 100 are different, the authentication information 1303accompanying the association operation scripts 1301 may be common if theassociation operation scripts 1301 have been developed according to thesame script format 4301 by the publisher 500.

Accordingly, the collection unit 412, for example, may collect logs inunits of script formats 4301 rather than units of individual associationoperation scripts. On the other hand, the authentication information4303 associated with the script format 4301 may be determined inconsideration of the unit of collection in the collection unit 412. Forexample, if the collection unit 412 collects the logs for each publisher500 which has developed and published the association operation script,the collection unit 412 may cause authentication information 4303different among the publishers 500 of a provision destination to beaccompanied even when the script format 4301 is common.

The determination unit 413 determines the execution range of theassociation operation script 1301 in the electronic device 100 based onthe authentication information received by the reception unit 411. Forexample, the determination unit 413 may determine that the execution ofthe association operation script 1301 is possible (the entireassociation operation script 1301 is executable) in the electronicdevice 100 when the received authentication information matches theauthentication information 4303 stored in the storage unit 430. Further,the execution range of the association operation script 1301 may beregistered in such a manner to be associated with the authenticationinformation 4303 in the storage unit 430. For example, when theauthentication information 4303 in which the association operationscript 1301 has been registered as being executable in the past has beeninvalidated due to the publisher 500 and the user of the electronicdevice 100, the authentication information 4303 may be subsequentlyregistered in the storage unit 430 to indicate that the execution of theassociation operation script 1301 is not permitted (there is noexecution range). In this case, the determination unit 413 determinesthat the execution of the association operation script 1301 in theelectronic device 100 is not permitted (there is no execution range)based on the information registered in the storage unit 430, andnotifies the electronic device 100 of the fact via the transmission unit415. Further, the determination unit 413 may transmit an additionalscript for invalidating the association operation script 1301 stored inthe storage unit 130 of the electronic device 100 to the electronicdevice 100 via the transmission unit 415. Further, such an additionalscript may be distributed from the management server 400 to theelectronic device 100 all at once not only when the reception unit 411has received the inquiry of the execution range of the associationoperation script 1301 from the electronic device 100 but also, forexample, when the registration of the authentication information 4303 inthe storage unit 430 has been changed.

The payment processing unit 414 generates payment information based onthe log 4305 collected by the collection unit 412. For example, thepayment information may indicate charging to the user of the electronicdevice 100 according to an execution history of the associationoperation indicated by the log 4305. In this case, for example, theassociation operation script 1301 used in the electronic device 100 maybe provided for free from the publisher 500 via the script server 200.Charging is performed from the management server 400 to the user of theelectronic device 100 by the user of the electronic device 100 executingthe association operation (e.g., a predetermined number of times ormore), and a part of the value paid from the user to the manager of themanagement server 400 according to this charging may be distributed tothe publisher 500. Alternatively, the payment information may indicatecharging to the publisher 500 according to an execution history of theassociation operation indicated by the log 4305. In this case, forexample, the association operation script 1301 used in the electronicdevice 100 may be provided for a fee from the publisher 500 through thescript server 200. Charging may be performed from the management server400 to the publisher 500 by the user of the electronic device 100executing the association operation, and a part of the value that thepublisher 500 has received from the user of the electronic device 100according to this charging may be returned to the manager of themanagement server 400.

The transmission unit 415 transmits various pieces of informationgenerated in the management server 400 to the electronic device 100 or aserver different from the management server 400 via the communicationunit 420. The transmission unit 415, for example, may transmit aresponse including information indicating the execution range of theassociation operation script 1301 in the electronic device 100, whichhas been generated based on the authentication information by thedetermination unit 413, to the electronic device 100. Further, thetransmission unit 415 may transmit an additional script for invalidatingthe association operation script stored in the electronic device 100,which has been generated based on the authentication information by thedetermination unit 413, to the electronic device 100. Further, thetransmission unit 415 may transmit payment information indicatingcharging to the user of the electronic device 100, which has beengenerated by the payment processing unit 414, to a server different fromthe management server 400 or the electronic device 100. Here, the serverwhich is a transmission destination of the payment information is, forexample, a server of the publisher 500, a server of the manufacturer ofthe electronic device 100, or a server of a provider providing variousservices to the electronic device 100, such as an affiliate.

(1-2. Process Flow)

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of theelectronic device according to one embodiment of this disclosure. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 3, first, the control unit 111 of theelectronic device 100 transmits a request including the authenticationinformation 1303 accompanying the association operation script 1301 tobe executed to the management server 400 via the transmission unit 112(step S101).

The management server 400 determines the execution range of theassociation operation script 1301 based on the authenticationinformation included in the transmitted request, and transmits adetermination result as a response to the electronic device 100. In theelectronic device 100, the reception unit 113 receives the responseincluding the information indicating the execution range of theassociation operation script 1301.

Here, the control unit 111 determines whether validation of theassociation operation script 1301 is successful based on the informationincluded in the response received by the reception unit 113 (step S103).In the illustrated example, the validation of the association operationscript 1301 means that execution of the association operation using theassociation operation script 1301 is permitted by the management server400 and is enabled. A case in which the association operation has notbeen validated may be a case in which the execution of the associationoperation has not been permitted by the management server 400 or a casein which the association operation has been restricted.

When the validation of the association operation script 1301 issuccessful in step S103, the control unit 111 executes the associationoperation according to the association operation script 1301 (stepS107). Further, after the execution of the association operation orduring the execution of the association operation, the control unit 111generates a log related to the association operation, associates thegenerated log 1305 with the authentication information 1303, andtransmits the log to the management server 400 (step S109).

On the other hand, when the validation of the association operationscript 1301 has not been successful in step S103, the control unit 111executes an operation for which validation is not necessary (step S105).The operation for which validation is not necessary is, for example, anoperation which is defined as an operation for which validation based onthe authentication information 1303 is not necessary in the associationoperation script 1301 or the response received from the managementserver 400. When there is no such operation, the control unit 111 candirectly end the process without executing the association operation.Further, the control unit 111 may notify a user that an executableassociation operation is present but it is difficult for the executableassociation operation to be (sufficiently) executed since authenticationinformation is not valid.

(1-3. Variants)

In a variant of one embodiment of this disclosure described above, forexample, not only the association operation script but also a softwareinterface which realizes the association operation between the devicesin cooperation with the association operation script may be accompaniedby the authentication information. This software interface is referencedas a device API in an example which will be described below. Thesoftware interface, for example, is obtained by abstracting thefunctionalities of the electronic device 100, and each functionality isdefined as a function. In this case, the control unit 111 of theelectronic device 100 accesses the software interface according to theassociation operation script, and realizes the functionality of theelectronic device 100 necessary for the association operation by callingthe defined function.

In this variant, for example, the control unit 111 of the electronicdevice 100 may at least temporarily store the log related to theassociation operation in such a manner to be associated with theauthentication information 1303 accompanying the association operationscript 1301 and the authentication information accompanying the softwareinterface, in the storage unit 130, and the transmission unit 112 maytransmit this log to the management server 400. In this case, in themanagement server 400, the reception unit 411 receives the log togetherwith the respective authentication information.

Further, in the variant described above, the transmission unit 112 ofthe electronic device 100 may transmit a request including theauthentication information accompanying each of the associationoperation script 1301 and the software interface to the managementserver 400. In this case, in the management server 400, the receptionunit 411 receives the request including the respective authenticationinformation, and the determination unit 413 determines the executionrange of the association operation script 1301 based on the respectiveauthentication information.

As in the variant described above, as the software interface of theelectronic device 100 is also accompanied by the authenticationinformation, it is possible for the management server 400 to recognizewhich association operation script is used to execute the associationoperation and which device is used to execute the association operation.Further, a signature given by the manager of the management server 400may also be included in the authentication information accompanying thesoftware interface, as in the authentication information accompanyingthe association operation script.

(2. A Mechanism and a Specific Example of the Association Operation)

Next, a mechanism and a specific example of the association operation inone embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 8.

(2-1. Mechanism of the Association Operation)

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating a functionality of theassociation operation script in one embodiment of this disclosure.Device APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) 101 and 301,communication functionalities 103 and 303, and other functionalities 105and 305 for the electronic device 100 and the other electronic device300 are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. While these elements of theelectronic device 100 will be described by way of example hereinafter,the same applies to the other electronic device 300.

The device API 101 is an API prepared to use a functionality of theelectronic device 100 and may be realized as software by the processor110 of the electronic device 100. The communication functionality 103and the other functionality 105 of the electronic device 100 areabstracted by the device API 101. In other words, for example, when afunction defined in the device API 101 is called, the processor 110issues a control command for controlling the processor 110 itself orhardware such as the communication unit 120, the storage unit 130 andthe input/output unit 140 to realize the communication functionality 103and the other functionality 105.

In a state illustrated in FIG. 4, there is no association operationscript in at least the electronic device 100. In this state, theassociation operation between the electronic device 100 and the otherelectronic device 300 is difficult. On the other hand, in a stateillustrated in FIG. 5, an association operation script 107 isdistributed to the electronic device 100 by the script server 200. Inthe electronic device 100, the communication functionality 103 and theother functionality 105 for an association operation with the otherelectronic device 300 are realized by the processor 110 calling thefunction defined in the device API 101 according to the associationoperation script 107.

On the other hand, an association operation script 307 may also bedistributed to the other electronic device 300 by the script server 200,as in the electronic device 100. Alternatively, the associationoperation script 307 may have been prepared in the other electronicdevice 300 in advance, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In the other electronicdevice 300, the communication functionality 303 and the otherfunctionality 305 for an association operation with the electronicdevice 100 are realized by calling a function defined in the device API301 according to the association operation script 307. A state in whichthe communication functionality 103 of the electronic device 100 and thecommunication functionality 303 of the other electronic device 300 arecommunicating with each other in the association operation isillustrated in FIG. 5.

Here, the association operation script in this embodiment will bedescribed again. In the present specification, an association operationprogram described in a script format among association operationprograms is referred to as an association operation script. The scriptformat may mean a program described using a script language or aninterpreter language. An example of such a language includes a markuplanguage. Further, the association operation program is not limited to ascript format and may be described in other formats (e.g., an objectcode or an assembly language), but when the association operationprogram is described in a script format, it is advantageous, forexample, in that a program development period is shortened.

For example, an entity which executes an operation, a function of a usedAPI, a parameter set in the function, a combination or an order offunctions to be executed, and the like are described in the associationoperation script. For example, in the example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and5, in the electronic device 100, an interpreter corresponding to theassociation operation script 107 is implemented in the processor 110,and a function of the device API 101 is called according tointerpretation of the association operation script 107 by theinterpreter, such that the communication functionality 103 and the otherfunctionality 105 are realized. The same applies to the other electronicdevice 300.

Thus, in this embodiment, the functionality realized by the hardware ofthe electronic device is abstracted using the device API, and eachfunctionality is realized through the device API according to apredetermined condition and/or procedure using the association operationscript, such that the association operation between the devices isrealized. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine conditions orprocedures for all association operations at the time of manufacture ofthe electronic device and write the conditions or the procedures as aprogram, and it is possible to define the conditions or the proceduresusing the association operation script after manufacture of theelectronic device. Therefore, it is possible to shorten a developmentperiod of the electronic device, and easily realize the associationoperation with a new device appearing after manufacture of theelectronic device.

Further, since an association operation script can be provided after theelectronic device of the association partner is concretely identified, acase in which information on a large number of association operations,including association operations which are unrealizable, is displayedand confuses the user does not occur. Further, for example, even whenelectronic devices of association partners are different according to adifference of products circulating in each region, associationoperations according to the respective regions can be selectivelypresented and realized without modifying a program design of theelectronic devices. Further, as the association script can be updated orinvalidated, for example, a posteriori management of a use right of theassociation operation or distribution of a time-limited, effectiveassociation operation script is possible.

(2-2. A Specific Example of the Association Operation)

(First Example: An Image Captured by a Digital Camera is Recorded by aSmartphone)

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first specific example of theassociation operation in one embodiment of this disclosure. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 6, a smartphone 100 a is illustrated as aspecific example of the electronic device 100 and a digital camera 300 ais illustrated as a specific example of the other electronic device 300.

In the illustrated example, an association operation script 107 a “toreceive and record an image” is provided from the script server 200 tothe smartphone 100 a and an association operation script 307 a “tocapture and transmit an image” is provided from the script server 200 tothe digital camera 300 a. The association operation scripts 107 a and307 a are scripts for realizing an association operation between thesmartphone 100 a and the digital camera 300 a “to transfer the imagecaptured by the digital camera 300 a to the smartphone 100 a and recordthe image on the smartphone 100 a.” For example, the associationoperation scripts 107 a and 307 a may be stored to be associated withdevice identification information of the smartphone 100 a and thedigital camera 300 a in the script server 200.

The association operation “to transfer the image captured by the digitalcamera 300 a to the smartphone 100 a and record the image on thesmartphone 100 a” may be executed, for example, when photographs areshared between friends visiting the same place or an image of the cameraprovided to the public (e.g., installed in a restricted area) at asightseeing spot or an event meeting place is acquired. Therefore, theassociation operation scripts 107 a and 307 a may be distributed to thesmartphone 100 a and the digital camera 300 a, for example, when thesmartphone 100 a and the digital camera 300 a have been close to eachother and short distance communication has been executed or when animage including a two-dimensional code indicating the digital camera 300a is captured by a camera of the smartphone 100 a. More specifically,when a request including the device identification information of thedigital camera 300 a has been transmitted from the smartphone 100 a tothe script server 200, the association operation scripts 107 a and 307 amay be distributed from the script server 200.

Here, the script server 200 may transmit the association operationscript 107 a to the smartphone 100 a and the association operationscript 307 a to the digital camera 300 a. Alternatively, the scriptserver 200 may transmit both of the association operation script 107 aand the association operation script 307 a to both of the smartphone 100a and the digital camera 300 a, the smartphone 100 a may selectivelyexecute the association operation script 107 a, and the digital camera300 a may selectively execute the association operation script 307 a. Inthis case, the association operation script 107 a and the associationoperation script 307 a may be described, for example, in the same fileor may be described in separate files.

For example, a function of capturing an image using the imagingfunctionality 305 a and a function of transmitting image data using thecommunication functionality 303 a are defined in the device API 301 a ofthe digital camera 300 a. In the digital camera 300 a, imaging using theimaging functionality 305 a is first executed and then data transmissionusing the communication functionality 303 a is executed for the imagedata obtained by imaging, as a result of calling the functions accordingto the association operation script 307 a. In this case, the smartphone100 a may be designated as a transmission destination of the image dataaccording to the association operation script 307 a.

Meanwhile, a function of receiving the image data using thecommunication functionality 103 a and a function of recording the imagedata using the recording functionality 105 a are defined in the deviceAPI 101 a of the smartphone 100 a. In the smartphone 100 a, first, thereception of the image data using the communication functionality 103 ais executed and then the received image data is recorded using therecording functionality 105 a as a result of such functions are calledaccording to the association operation script 107 a. In this case,according to the association operation script 107 a, the digital camera300 a may be designated as a transmission source of the image data.

(Second Example: Remote Photography)

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second specific example of theassociation operation in one embodiment of this disclosure. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 7, a smartphone 100 a is illustrated as aspecific example of the electronic device 100, and a digital camera 300a is illustrated as a specific example of the other electronic device300.

In the illustrated example, an association operation script 107 b of“remote photography” is provided from the script server 200 to thesmartphone 100 a and an association operation script 307 b of “remotephotography” is provided from the script server 200 to the digitalcamera 300 a. The association operation scripts 107 b and 307 b arescripts for realizing an association operation between the smartphone100 a and the digital camera 300 a “to remotely control the digitalcamera 300 a from the smartphone 100 a and execute the photography.” Theassociation operation scripts 107 b and 307 b may be stored, forexample, in the script server 200 to be associated with the deviceidentification information of the smartphone 100 a and the digitalcamera 300 a, as in the first example. A distribution form of thescripts from the script server 200 to the smartphone 100 a and thedigital camera 300 a is the same as that in the first example describedabove.

The association operation “to remotely control the digital camera 300 afrom the smartphone 100 a and execute the photography” may be executedin the same situation as in the first example described above.Therefore, the association operation scripts 107 b and 307 b may bedistributed to the smartphone 100 a and the digital camera 300 a on thesame condition as in the first example.

For example, a function of transmitting a control command to an imagingdevice using a communication functionality 103 b different from thecommunication functionality 103 a in the first example and receivingimage data from the imaging device is defined in a device API 101 a ofthe smartphone 100 a. Further, a function of receiving the controlcommand from the control device using a communication functionality 303b different from the communication functionality 303 a in the firstexample and transmitting the image data to the control device is definedin a device API 301 a of the digital camera 300 a.

In the second example, first, the communication functionality 103 b inthe smartphone 100 a is executed through the device API 101 a by theassociation operation script 107 b. In this case, as the digital camera300 a is designated as an imaging device which is a transmissiondestination, the control command is transmitted from the smartphone 100a to the digital camera 300 a. On the other hand, the communicationfunctionality 303 b in the digital camera 300 a is executed through thedevice API 301 a by the association operation script 307 b. In thiscase, as the smartphone 100 a is designated as a control device which isa transmission source, the control command transmitted from thesmartphone 100 a is received.

Here, information of the function of the device API 301 a of the digitalcamera 300 a designated by the association operation script 107 b may beincluded in the control command. Thus, in this embodiment, usinginformation on a device API of a device of an association partnerdescribed in the association operation script, a control commandaccording to the device of the association partner may be issued, forexample, in the case of the remote control as in the example describedabove.

Subsequently, in the digital camera 300 a, imaging using an imagingfunctionality 305 a is executed according to the received controlcommand, and image data obtained by the imaging is transmitted to thesmartphone 100 a using the communication functionality 303 b. In thesmartphone 100 a, the image data is received from the digital camera 300a using the communication functionality 103 b, and the received imagedata is recorded using a recording functionality 105 a.

(Third Example: Recording During a Call)

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a third specific example of theassociation operation in one embodiment of this disclosure. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 8, a smartphone 100 a is illustrated as aspecific example of the electronic device 100, and a television 300 cand a recorder 300 d are illustrated as a specific example of the otherelectronic devices 300.

In the illustrated example, association operation scripts 107 c, 307 cand 307 d of “recording during a call” are provided from the scriptserver 200 to the smartphone 100 a, the television 300 c and therecorder 300 d, respectively. The association operation scripts 107 c,307 c and 307 d are scripts for realizing an association operation amongthe smartphone 100 a, the television 300 c and the recorder 300 d “torecord content televised by the television 300 c on the recorder 300 dduring a call on the smartphone 100 a and reproduce the content afterthe call.” The association operation scripts 107 c, 307 c and 307 d maybe stored to be associated with device identification information of thesmartphone 100 a, the television 300 c and the recorder 300 d, forexample, in the script server 200.

For example, the association operation “to record content televised bythe television 300 c on the recorder 300 d during a call on thesmartphone 100 a and reproduce the content after the call” may beexecuted when a user of the smartphone 100 a watches the television 300c at home and there is an incoming call on the smartphone 100 a. Forexample, when the smartphone 100 a, the television 300 c and therecorder 300 d are connected to a LAN within the same home, theassociation operation scripts 107 c, 307 c and 307 d may be distributedfrom the script server 200 to the respective devices.

Here, since there are a large number of other association operations asassociation operations of the smartphone 100 a and the television 300 cand/or the recorder 300 d, for example, when the smartphone 100 a isconnected to the LAN within the home, a plurality of the associationoperation scripts including the association operation scripts 107 c, 307c and 307 d may be distributed to the devices. Alternatively,association operation scripts to be distributed may be selected by auser manipulation. A timing at which the association operation isexecuted by each association operation script may be designated, forexample, by a user manipulation or may be automatically determined inconjunction with another operation executed by each device.

In the illustrated example, when the association operation script 107 cin the smartphone 100 a recognizes that a call using a callfunctionality 105 c starts through the device API 101 a, the associationoperation script 107 c starts up a communication functionality 103 cthrough the device API 101 a. Using the communication functionality 103c, the television 300 c and the recorder 300 d are notified that theassociation operation by the association operation scripts 307 c and 307d starts.

In this case, the association operation script 307 c in the television300 c acquires information (e.g., a channel of broadcasting waves) oncontent televised using a display functionality 305 c through the deviceAPI 301 c, and transmits the acquired information using thecommunication functionality 303 c to the recorder 300 d. Meanwhile, inthe recorder 300 d, the association operation script 307 d receives theinformation transmitted from the television 300 c using a communicationfunctionality 303 d through the device API 301 d and starts recording ofthe content using a recording functionality 305 d.

Then, in the smartphone 100 a, the association operation script 107 crecognizes that a call using the call functionality 105 c ends throughthe device API 101 a. In this case, using the communicationfunctionality 103 c, the television 300 c and the recorder 300 d arenotified that a stage of the association operation is shifted fromrecording to reproduction. In this case, the association operationscript 307 d in the recorder 300 d ends the recording of the contentusing the recording functionality 305 d (when the televising of thecontent does not end, recording may continue for subsequent time shiftreproduction), and provides the recorded content to the television 300 cusing the communication functionality 303 d.

Meanwhile, in the television 300 c, the association operation script 307d receives the content transmitted from the recorder 300 d using thecommunication functionality 303 c, and televises the received contentusing the display functionality 305 c. This operation of the television300 c, for example, may be an operation of switching a source of thecontent televised using the display functionality 305 c from thebroadcasting waves to HDMI (registered trademark) (High-DefinitionMultimedia Interface). With the association operation described above,the user can watch, on the television 300 c, a part of the contentmissed due to televising during a call after ending the call on thesmartphone 100 a.

Further, in the illustrated example, the communication functionalities303 c and 303 d can execute both of communication through a LAN within ahome, including the smartphone 100 a, and communication using the HDMI(registered trademark) between the television 300 c and the recorder 300d. These communications may be implemented, for example, by separatefunctions in the device APIs 301 c and 301 d. Thus, the functionalitiesdescribed in the respective described examples do not necessarilycorrespond to the functions defined in the device APIs. The respectivefunctionalities, for example, may be realized by calling a plurality offunctions defined in the device APIs according to a predeterminedprocedure.

As described above, in this embodiment, various association operationsby various devices are possible. All association operations realized,for example, by storing procedures for the association operations in therespective devices in advance can be realized as association operationsin the system according to this embodiment by preparing device APIs inthe respective devices and distributing association operation scriptscapable of using the device APIs, as shown in the example describedabove.

(3. Implementation Examples)

Next, implementation examples of one embodiment of this disclosure willbe described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first implementation example in oneembodiment of this disclosure. A marketplace 200 illustrated in FIG. 9corresponds to the script server 200 in the embodiment described above.Further, a mediator 400 corresponds to the management server 400 in theembodiment described above. Further, a service provider 300 correspondsto the other electronic device 300 in the embodiment described above.Thus, the other electronic device 300 in this embodiment may include notonly a terminal device used by the user, but also a server device on thenetwork.

The mediator 400 provides a script format 601. In this case, themediator 400 buries the authentication information in the script format601. Meanwhile, the publisher 500 develops an association operationscript 603 according to the script format 601, and exhibits theassociation operation script 603 at the marketplace 200. In this case,the association operation script 603 is developed based on cooperationwith a device API 605. When the publisher 500 exhibits the associationoperation script 603 at the marketplace 200, it may be necessary for thepublisher 500 to perform registration in the mediator 400. However, thisregistration may be omitted by associating the authenticationinformation of the association operation script 607 with a reportprovided to the mediator 400 when the association operation script isused, as will be described below.

A user 611 obtains the association operation script 603 from themarketplace 200 and uses the association operation script 603 as theassociation operation script 607 of the electronic device 100. In theillustrated example, the electronic device 100 perform an associationoperation with the service provider 300 as the association operationscript 607 cooperates with the device API 605, and provides service tothe user 611. In this case, the electronic device 100 associates a logrelated to the association operation with the authentication informationof the association operation script 607 and transmits the log to themediator 400 as a report. Accordingly, the mediator 400 can recognizethat the association operation using the association operation scriptdeveloped according to the script format provided to the publisher 500has been executed, for example, to charge the publisher 500 ordistribute a value obtained by charging the user to the publisher 500.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second implementation example in oneembodiment of this disclosure. In this example, a difference between thefirst implementation example and the second implementation example isthat an API format 613 is also provided to the device API 605. The APIformat 613 is provided to a manufacturer 615, which then incorporatesthe device API 605 at the time of manufacture of the electronic device100. A marketplace 617 is provided for the publisher 500 to obtain thedevice API 605 incorporated in the electronic device 100. Themanufacturer 615 adds authentication information to the device API 605of the device exhibited at the marketplace 617 and registers thisauthentication information in the mediator 400. It is possible to tracethat the association operation using the device API 605 of the deviceexhibited by the manufacturer 615 has been executed by associating theauthentication information of the device API 605 as well as theauthentication information of the association operation script 607 withthe report provided to the mediator 400 at the time at which theassociation operation script is used.

The user 611 obtains the association operation script 603 from themarketplace 200 and uses the association operation script 603 as anassociation operation script 607 of the electronic device 100. In theillustrated example, the electronic device 100 performs an associationoperation with the service provider 300 as the association operationscript 607 and the device API 605 cooperate with each other, andprovides service to the user 611. In this case, the electronic device100 associates a log related to the association operation with theauthentication information of the association operation script 607 andthe authentication information of the device API 605 and transmits thelog to the mediator 400 as a report. Accordingly, the mediator 400 canrecognize the association operation using the association operationscript 607 developed according to the script format provided to thepublisher 500 and the device API 605 of the electronic device 100manufactured by the manufacturer 615, for example, to charge thepublisher 500 or distribute the value obtained by charging the user tothe publisher 500 or the manufacturer 615.

For example, when the device API 605 is not accompanied by theauthentication information, it is difficult to trace that theassociation operation using the device API 605 of the electronic device100 has been executed. Therefore, even when the electronic device 100has been used for the association operation, it is difficult todistribute the value of the service provided through the associationoperation to the manufacturer 615. However, in the example describedabove, it is possible to trace the execution of the associationoperation and distribute the value to the manufacturer 615 when theassociation operation has been executed, by realizing the functionalityof the electronic device 100 using the device API 605 and also causingthe device API 605 to be accompanied by the authentication information.

(4. Hardware Configuration)

Next, a hardware configuration of an information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment of this disclosure will be described withreference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a hardwareconfiguration of the information processing device according to theembodiment of this disclosure. The illustrated information processingdevice 900, for example, may realize the electronic device 100, thescript server 200, the other electronic device 300, or the managementserver 400 in the embodiment described above.

The information processing apparatus 900 includes a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 901, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 903, and a RAM (RandomAccess Memory) 905. In addition, the information processing apparatus900 may include a host bus 907, a bridge 909, an external bus 911, aninterface 913, an input device 915, an output device 917, a storagedevice 919, a drive 921, a connection port 923, and a communicationdevice 925. Further, the information processing apparatus 900 mayinclude an imaging device 933 and a sensor 935 as necessary. Theinformation processing apparatus 900 may include a processing circuitsuch as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), alternatively or in additionto the CPU 901.

The CPU 901 serves as an operation processor and a controller, andcontrols all or some operations in the information processing apparatus900 in accordance with various programs recorded in the ROM 903, the RAM905, the storage device 919 or a removable recording medium 927. The ROM903 stores programs and operation parameters which are used by the CPU901. The RAM 905 primarily stores program which are used in theexecution of the CPU 901 and parameters which is appropriately modifiedin the execution. The CPU 901, ROM 903, and RAM 905 are connected toeach other by the host bus 907 configured to include an internal bussuch as a CPU bus. In addition, the host bus 907 is connected to theexternal bus 911 such as a PCI (Peripheral ComponentInterconnect/Interface) bus via the bridge 909.

The input device 915 may be a device which is operated by a user, suchas a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, buttons, switches and a lever.The input device 915 may be, for example, a remote control unit usinginfrared light or other radio waves, or may be an external connectiondevice 929 such as a portable phone operable in response to theoperation of the information processing apparatus 900. Furthermore, theinput device 915 includes an input control circuit which generates aninput signal on the basis of the information which is input by a userand outputs the input signal to the CPU 901. By operating the inputdevice 915, a user can input various types of data to the informationprocessing apparatus 900 or issue instructions for causing theinformation processing apparatus 900 to perform a processing operation.

The output device 917 includes a device capable of visually or audiblynotifying the user of acquired information. The output device 917 mayinclude a display device such as LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), PDP(Plasma Display Panel), and organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) displays,an audio output device such as speaker and headphone, and a peripheraldevice such as printer. The output device 917 may output the resultsobtained from the process of the information processing apparatus 900 ina form of a video such as text or image, and an audio such as voice orsound.

The storage device 919 is a device for data storage which is configuredas an example of a storage unit of the information processing apparatus900. The storage device 919 includes, for example, a magnetic storagedevice such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a semiconductor storage device, anoptical storage device, or a magneto-optical storage device. The storagedevice 919 stores programs to be executed by the CPU 901, various data,and data obtained from the outside.

The drive 921 is a reader/writer for the removable recording medium 927such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or asemiconductor memory, and is embedded in the information processingapparatus 900 or attached externally thereto. The drive 921 readsinformation recorded in the removable recording medium 927 attachedthereto, and outputs the read information to the RAM 905. Further, thedrive 921 can write in the removable recording medium 927 attachedthereto.

The connection port 923 is a port used to directly connect devices tothe information processing apparatus 900. The connection port 923 mayinclude a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, an IEEE1394 port, and a SCSI(Small Computer System Interface) port. The connection port 923 mayfurther include an RS-232C port, an optical audio terminal, an HDMI(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port, and so on. The connectionof the external connection device 929 to the connection port 923 makesit possible to exchange various data between the information processingapparatus 900 and the external connection device 929.

The communication device 925 is, for example, a communication interfaceincluding a communication device or the like for connection to acommunication network 931. The communication device 925 may be, forexample, a communication card for a wired or wireless LAN (Local AreaNetwork), Bluetooth (registered trademark), WUSB (Wireless USB) or thelike. In addition, the communication device 925 may be a router foroptical communication, a router for ADSL (Asymmetric Digital SubscriberLine), a modem for various kinds of communications, or the like. Thecommunication device 925 can transmit and receive signals to and from,for example, the Internet or other communication devices based on apredetermined protocol such as TCP/IP. In addition, the communicationnetwork 931 connected to the communication device 925 may be a networkor the like connected in a wired or wireless manner, and may be, forexample, the Internet, a home LAN, infrared communication, radio wavecommunication, satellite communication, or the like.

The imaging device 933 is a device that generates an image by imaging areal space using an image sensor such as a charge-coupled device (CCD)or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, as well asvarious members such as one or more lenses for controlling the formationof a subject image on the image sensor, for example. The imaging device933 may be a device that takes still images, and may also be a devicethat takes moving images.

The sensor 935 is any of various sensors such as an acceleration sensor,a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an optical sensor, or a soundsensor, for example. The sensor 935 acquires information regarding thestate of the information processing apparatus 900, such as theorientation of the case of the information processing apparatus 900, aswell as information regarding the environment surrounding theinformation processing apparatus 900, such as the brightness or noisesurrounding the information processing apparatus 900, for example. Thesensor 935 may also include a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensorthat receives GPS signals and measures the latitude, longitude, andaltitude of the apparatus.

The foregoing thus illustrates an exemplary hardware configuration ofthe information processing apparatus 900. Each of the above componentsmay be realized using general-purpose members, but may also be realizedin hardware specialized in the function of each component. Such aconfiguration may also be modified as appropriate according to thetechnological level at the time of the implementation.

(5. Supplemental Remarks)

Embodiments of the present disclosure encompass an informationprocessing apparatus (an electronic device or a server) and system asdescribed in the foregoing, an information processing method executed byan information processing apparatus or system, a program for causing aninformation processing apparatus to function, and a non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing such a program, for example.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Example embodiments include

(1) An information processing device comprising:

an interface configured to receive authentication information from anelectronic device; and

circuitry configured to

identify an execution range of an association operation program executedby the electronic device based on the authentication information, theexecution range being indicative of an authentication of an associationbetween the electronic device and another electronic device.

(2) The information processing apparatus of (1), wherein

the execution range is less than a predetermined range if theauthentication information does not match the stored authenticationinformation, and

the execution range is the predetermined range if the authenticationinformation matches the stored authentication information.

(3) The information processing apparatus of (2), wherein

the circuitry is configured to transmit an indication of the executionrange to the electronic device.

(4) The information processing apparatus of (1), wherein

the circuitry is configured to identify from the authenticationinformation from the electronic device a script format that indicatesthe association between the association operation program and theauthentication information from the electronic device.

(5) The information processing apparatus of (1), wherein

the authentication information received from the electronic device isincluded with or in the association operation program.

(6) The information processing apparatus of (1), wherein

the interface also receives a log from the electronic device that isassociated with the association operation program at the electronicdevice.

(7) The information processing apparatus of (1), wherein

the circuitry is further configured to transmit an additional program tothe electronic device to end the association operation program.

(8) The information processing apparatus of (1), wherein

the interface is configured to receive the authentication information,the association operation program, and a device API for the electronicdevice.

(9) The information processing device of (1), wherein

the circuitry is configured to implement a script server that receivesthe association operation program from a publisher and distributes theassociation operation program to the electronic device.

(10) The information processing device of (1), wherein

the circuitry is configured to send a script format to a publisher sothe publisher can develop the association operation script in a formatthat can subsequently be confirmed by the circuitry.

(11) The information processing device of (1), wherein

the association operation program is a script.

(12) The information processing device of (1), wherein

the interface also receives a log from the electronic device thatincludes an indication of the association operation program having beenexecuted by the electronic device.

(13) The information processing device of (1), wherein

the association operation program configures the electronic device torealize an association operation between the electronic device and theanother electronic device.

(14) The information processing device of (1), wherein

the association operation program includes a first part in whichpermission based on the authentication information is used for executionand a second part in which permission based on the authenticationinformation is not used for execution.

(15) An information processing system comprising:

an information management device including

an interface configured to receive authentication information from anelectronic device, and

circuitry configured to

identify an execution range of an association operation program executedby the electronic device based on the authentication information, theexecution range being indicative of an authentication of an associationbetween the electronic device and another electronic device; and

an information processing device configured to

receive description information regarding the electronic device and theanother electronic device,

communicate with the electronic device and another electronic device andsend the association operation program to the electronic device thatconfigures the electronic device to realize an association operationbetween the electronic device and the another electronic device.

(16) The system of (15), wherein

a release date of the association operation program is after a releasedate of at least one of the electronic device and the another electronicdevice.

(17) The system of (15), wherein

the association operation script is related to a type of device, an APIversion, and/or model type.

(18) The system of (15), wherein

the information processing device is one of a smartphone, a digitalcamera and a television.

(19) The system of (15), wherein

the association operation program is a script.

(20) An information processing method comprising:

receiving via an interface authentication information from an electronicdevice; and identifying with the circuitry an execution range of anassociation operation program executed by the electronic device based onthe authentication program, the execution range being indicative of anauthentication of an association between the electronic device andanother electronic device.

(21) The method of (20), further comprising:

transmitting an indication of execution range to the electronic device.

(22) The method of (20), further comprising:

identifying from the authentication information from the electronicdevice a script format that indicates the association between theassociation operation program and the authentication information fromthe electronic device.

(23) The method of (20), wherein

the authentication information received from the electronic device isincluded in the association operation program.

(24) The method of (20), further comprising:

receiving a log from the electronic device that is associated with theassociation operation program at the electronic device, the logincluding an indication of the association operation program having beenexecuted by the electronic device.

(20) A non-transitory computer readable storage device includinginstructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer toexecute an information processing method, the method comprising:

receiving via an interface authentication information from an electronicdevice; and identifying with the circuitry an execution range of anassociation operation program executed by the electronic device based onthe authentication information, the execution range being indicative ofan authentication of an association between the electronic device andanother electronic device.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

(1) An electronic device, including:

a control unit which controls the electronic device according to anassociation operation program for the electronic device and at least oneother electronic device to execute an association operation, and atleast temporarily stores a log related to the association operation in astorage unit together with first authentication information accompanyingthe association operation program.

(2) The electronic device according to (1), wherein the control unitdetermines an execution range of the association operation program basedon the first authentication information.

(3) The electronic device according to (2), further including:

a transmission unit which transmits a request including the firstauthentication information to a first server; and

a reception unit which receives a response generated in response to therequest and including information indicating the execution range of theassociation operation program from the first server,

wherein the control unit executes the association operation program in arange indicated by information included in the response.

(4) The electronic device according to (2),

wherein the association operation program includes a first part in whichpermission based on the first authentication information is necessaryfor execution, and a second part in which the permission based on thefirst authentication information is not necessary for execution, and

wherein the control unit executes the second part regardless of thefirst authentication information.

(5) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (4), furtherincluding a transmission unit which transmits a log related to theassociation operation to the first server.

(6) The electronic device according to (5), further including areception unit which receives payment information generated based on thetransmitted log from the first server.

(7) The electronic device according to (5) or (6),

wherein the transmission unit transmits device identificationinformation of the electronic device to a second server different fromthe first server over a network, and wherein the electronic devicefurther includes a reception unit which receives an associationoperation program for the electronic device and the at least one otherelectronic device from the second server over the network.

(8) The electronic device according to (7), wherein the firstauthentication information includes a signature given by a manager ofthe first server.

(9) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (8), whereinthe control unit controls the electronic device by accessing a softwareinterface obtained by abstracting a functionality of the electronicdevice and executes the association operation according to theassociation operation program.

(10) The electronic device according to (9), wherein the control unit atleast temporarily stores in the storage unit a log related to theassociation operation in such a manner to be associated with the firstauthentication information and second authentication informationaccompanying the software interface.

(11) The electronic device according to (10), further including:

a transmission unit which transmits a request including the firstauthentication information and the second authentication information tothe first server; and

a reception unit which receives from the first server a responsegenerated in response to the request and including informationindicating an execution range of the association operation program,

wherein the control unit executes the association operation program in arange indicated by information included in the response.

(12) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (11), whereinthe at least one other electronic device includes an electronic deviceused in proximity to the electronic device.

(13) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (12), whereinthe at least one other electronic device includes an electronic deviceconstituting a third server connected to the electronic device over anetwork.

(14) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (13), whereinthe association operation program is described in a script format.

(15) A server including:

a storage unit in which information indicating association between anassociation operation program for a first electronic device and at leastone second electronic device different from the first electronic deviceand first authentication information accompanying the associationoperation program is stored;

a reception unit which receives a log related to an associationoperation that the first electronic device has executed according to theassociation operation program from the first electronic device togetherwith the first authentication information; and a collection unit whichcollects the log based on the first authentication information.

(16) The server according to (15),

wherein the reception unit receives, from the first electronic device, arequest including the first authentication information accompanying theassociation operation program stored at least temporarily in the firstelectronic device, and

wherein the server further includes

a determination unit which determines an execution range of theassociation operation program based on the received first authenticationinformation; and

a transmission unit which transmits a response including informationindicating the execution range to the first electronic device.

(17) The server according to (15) or (16), further including:

a payment processing unit which generates payment information based onthe collected log; and

a transmission unit which transmits the payment information to the firstelectronic device or a server different from the server.

(18) The server according to any one of (15) to (17), wherein the firstauthentication information is stored in such a manner to be associatedwith a format of the association operation program in the storage unit.

(19) The server according to (18), wherein the association operationprogram is developed according to the format and provided from a serverdifferent from the server to the first electronic device.

(20) The server according to (19), wherein the first authenticationinformation includes a signature given by a manager of the server.

(21) The server according to any one of (15) to (20), wherein theassociation operation is realized in the first electronic device by asoftware interface obtained by abstracting a functionality of the firstelectronic device cooperating with the association operation program.

(22) The server according to (21), wherein the reception unit receives alog related to the association operation from the first electronicdevice together with the first authentication information, and thesecond authentication information accompanying the software interface.

(23) The server according to (22),

wherein the reception unit receives from the first electronic device arequest including the first authentication information accompanying theassociation operation program stored at least temporarily in the firstelectronic device and the second authentication information, and

wherein the server further includes

a determination unit which determines an execution range of theassociation operation program based on the received first authenticationinformation and the received second authentication information, and

a transmission unit which transmits a response including informationindicating the execution range to the first electronic device.

(24) The server according to any one of (15) to (23), wherein the atleast one second electronic device includes an electronic device used inproximity to the first electronic device.

(25) The server according to any one of (15) to (24), wherein the atleast one second electronic device includes an electronic deviceconstituting a server different from the server connected to the firstelectronic device over the network.

(26) The server according to any one of (15) to (25), wherein theassociation operation program is described in a script format.

(27) A method of controlling an electronic device, the method including:

controlling, by a processor, the electronic device according to anassociation operation program for the electronic device and at least oneother electronic device to execute an association operation; and

at least temporarily storing a log related to the association operationin a storage unit together with first authentication informationaccompanying the association operation program.

(28) An information processing method, including:

storing information indicating association between an associationoperation program for a first electronic device and at least one secondelectronic device different from the first electronic device and firstauthentication information accompanying the association operationprogram;

receiving a log related to an association operation that the firstelectronic device has executed according to the association operationprogram from the first electronic device together with the firstauthentication information; and collecting, by a processor, the logbased on the first authentication information.

(29) A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having aprogram recorded therein for causing a processor included in anelectronic device to realize functionalities of:

controlling the electronic device according to an association operationprogram for the electronic device and at least one other electronicdevice to execute an association operation; and

at least temporarily storing a log related to the association operationin a storage unit together with first authentication informationaccompanying the association operation program.

(30) A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having aprogram recorded therein for causing a processor included in one or aplurality of information processing devices constituting a server torealize functionalities of:

storing information indicating association between an associationoperation program for a first electronic device and at least one secondelectronic device different from the first electronic device and firstauthentication information accompanying the association operationprogram;

receiving a log related to an association operation that the firstelectronic device has executed according to the association operationprogram from the first electronic device together with the firstauthentication information; and collecting the log based on the firstauthentication information.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10 system

100 electronic device

110 processor

111 control unit

112 transmission unit

113 reception unit

120 communication unit

130 storage unit

200 script server

300 other electronic device

400 management server

410 processor

411 reception unit

412 collection unit

413 determination unit

414 payment processing unit

415 transmission unit

420 communication unit

430 storage unit

500 publisher

The invention claimed is:
 1. An information processing devicecomprising: an interface configured to receive authenticationinformation from an electronic device; and circuitry configured todetermine whether or not a part or full of operations of an associationoperation program is restricted based on the authentication information,the association operation program being a program executed by theelectronic device regarding an association between the electronic deviceand another electronic device, wherein the interface is furtherconfigured to transmit a determination result of whether or not a partor full of operations of the association operation program is restrictedto the electronic device such that the electronic device can perform,based on the determination result, the association operation programwith or without a restriction of the operations of the associationoperation program; and receive log information from the electronicdevice that includes a log of the association operation program havingbeen executed by the electronic device between the another device, andthe circuitry is further configured to generate payment informationbased on the received log information.
 2. The information processingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to: determinea part or full of the operations of the association operation program isrestricted in case the authentication information does not match storedauthentication information; and determine none of the operations of theassociation operation program is restricted in case the authenticationinformation matches the stored authentication information.
 3. Theinformation processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry isconfigured to identify from the authentication information from theelectronic device a script format that indicates the association betweenthe association operation program and the authentication informationfrom the electronic device.
 4. The information processing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the authentication information received from theelectronic device is included with or in the association operationprogram.
 5. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to transmit an additional program to theelectronic device to end the association operation program.
 6. Theinformation processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface isconfigured to receive the authentication information, the associationoperation program, and a device API for the electronic device.
 7. Theinformation processing device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry isconfigured to implement a script server that receives the associationoperation program from a publisher and distributes the associationoperation program to the electronic device.
 8. The informationprocessing device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured tosend a script format to a publisher so the publisher can develop theassociation operation program in a format that can subsequently beconfirmed by the circuitry.
 9. The information processing device ofclaim 1, wherein the association operation program is a script.
 10. Theinformation processing device of claim 1, wherein the associationoperation program configures the electronic device to realize anassociation operation between the electronic device and the anotherelectronic device.
 11. The information processing device of claim 1,wherein the association operation program includes a first part in whichpermission based on the authentication information is used for executionand a second part in which permission based on the authenticationinformation is not used for execution.
 12. The information processingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the payment information indicates a chargeto a user of the electronic device for the association operation programhaving been executed by the electronic device between the anotherdevice.
 13. An information processing system comprising: an informationmanagement device including an interface configured to receiveauthentication information from an electronic device, and circuitryconfigured to determine whether or not a part or full of operations ofan association operation program is restricted based on theauthentication information, the association operation program being aprogram executed by the electronic device regarding an associationbetween the electronic device and another electronic device, wherein theinterface is further configured to transmit a determination result ofwhether or not a part or full of operations of the association operationprogram is restricted to the electronic device such that the electronicdevice can perform, based on the determination result, the associationoperation program with or without a restriction of the operations of theassociation operation program; and receive log information from theelectronic device that includes a log of the association operationprogram having been executed by the electronic device between theanother device, and the circuitry is further configured to generatepayment information based on the received log information; and aninformation processing device configured to receive descriptioninformation regarding the electronic device and the another electronicdevice; and communicate with the electronic device and the anotherelectronic device and send the association operation program to theelectronic device that configures the electronic device to realize anassociation operation between the electronic device and the anotherelectronic device.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein a release date ofthe association operation program is after a release date of at leastone of the electronic device and the another electronic device.
 15. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the association operation program is relatedto a type of device, an API version, and/or model type.
 16. The systemof claim 13, wherein the electronic device is one of a smartphone, adigital camera and a television.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein theassociation operation program is a script.
 18. An information processingmethod comprising: receiving via an interface authentication informationfrom an electronic device; determining with circuitry whether or not apart or full of operations of an association operation program isrestricted based on the authentication information, the associationoperation program being a program executed by the electronic deviceregarding an authentication of an association between the electronicdevice and another electronic device; transmitting via the interface adetermination result of whether or not a part or full of operations ofthe association operation program is restricted to the electronic devicesuch that the electronic device can perform, based on the determinationresult, the association operation program with or without a restrictionof the operations of the association operation program; receiving viathe interface log information from the electronic device that includes alog of the association operation program having been executed by theelectronic device between the another device: and generating with thecircuitry payment information based on the received log information. 19.The method of claim 18, further comprising: identifying from theauthentication information from the electronic device a script formatthat indicates the association between the association operation programand the authentication information from the electronic device.
 20. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the authentication information received fromthe electronic device is included in the association operation program.21. A non-transitory computer readable storage device includinginstructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer toexecute an information processing method, the method comprising:receiving via an interface authentication information from an electronicdevice; determining with circuitry whether or not a part or full ofoperations of an association operation program is restricted based onthe authentication information, the association operation program beinga program executed by the electronic device regarding an authenticationof an association between the electronic device and another electronicdevice; transmitting via the interface a determination result of whetheror not a part or full of operations of the association operation programis restricted to the electronic device such that the electronic devicecan perform, based on the determination result, the associationoperation program with or without a restriction of the operations of theassociation operation program; receiving via the interface loginformation from the electronic device that includes a log of theassociation operation program having been executed by the electronicdevice between the another device; and generating with the circuitrypayment information based on the received log information.